John Huff/Staff photographer
National President of the American Legion Auxiliary Peggy Thomas becomes an honorary member of the American Legion Post 6 in Portsmouth Friday evening when she is pinned by Post Commander Frank Desper during a regional visit to promote American Legion Auxiliary membership enrollment and programs they provide for veterans and their families.

PORTSMOUTH — Vice President of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit #6 Sheila Brooks says the post she contributes much of her time to is a pillar of support for her and family members of war veterans alike.

Brooks, a resident of Kittery, Maine, said she joined the auxiliary in 1991 through her husband, a U.S. Navy member in the 1970s who traveled all over the world during his service. He encouraged her to join the Dover unit years ago, and they since relocated to the Portsmouth post because, Brooks said, it’s an active and important organization. She readied the unit lounge on Islington Street in the Port City, as the group prepared for the arrival of the organization’s national president, Peggy Thomas. Brooks said it was an honor for her and the women she works with to meet their leading lady, and to take the opportunity showcase the work they do for their community.

“It’s actually an honor because she doesn’t go to every place,” Brooks explained.

Thomas entered the unit with representatives from the state legion organization Claudia Vatcher, Joyce Flanders and Irene Lewis, to enjoy an authentic New England fish fry, which Brooks said the legion unit’s color guard members host every month for veterans. Brooks noted Thomas is not a huge fan of fish, so she prepared a special chicken cordon bleu meal to welcome her to New Hampshire.

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John Huff/Staff photographer
Virginia Hoppe of Rye folds flags for troops serving in Korea as National President of the American Legion Auxiliary Peggy Thomas makes a visit to the American Legion Post 6 in Portsmouth Friday evening to promote American Legion Auxiliary membership enrollment and programs they provide for veterans and their families.

Upon her arrival, Thomas was made an honorary member of the unit, named after Frank E. Booma who is said to be one of, if not, the first man from Portsmouth to be killed in World War I. She commended the work of the unit and urged them to keep up their efforts, while Legion Commander Frank Desper presented her with a pin and some T-shirts. The unit also presented a gift of 14 senior memberships, pointing out they have reached 70 percent of their goal, and $100 for Thomas’ “Children of Warriors” scholarship program.

“What we’re all about is honoring their service yesterday, today and tomorrow,” Thomas told the crowd in a smoky bar area open only to members of the legion. “…I want to say thank you again, Commander.”

Thomas joined the American Legion Auxiliary through her late husband, John C. Thomas, a U.S. Army veteran. She has served as the organization’s first national president from Virginia since 1984. As a 31-year member of the auxiliary, she has held numerous leadership positions in the organization.

Following the presentation, Thomas said she is hoping to meet as many people as she can this weekend. She has many stops scheduled throughout the state, with a visit to Newmarket’s Post 67 at 2 p.m. today.

“I wanted to see the auxiliary members and see what they’re doing and just visit with them, to see what they’re doing for the veterans, the military and the families,” she said. “…My theme this year is ‘soaring to new heights’ because there’s no limit to what we can do if we work at it.”

Unit #6 President Judi Fountas said she was thrilled for Thomas to visit their unit.

“I think it will bring a little more focus,” she said. “We get to see the people up there … We’re just an auxiliary but the national president thinks enough of us (to come visit), so it gives us a little more of a boost to do our job, and do our programs.”

Brooks said she hoped to showcase some of the many programs the local auxiliary has been working on, including folding pocket American flags which will be shipped over to South Korean military troops. Virginia Hoppe, of Rye, sat a table as Thomas passed through, folding the flags into mini- triangles with messages that read, “A flag for your pocket so you can always carry a little piece of home … Thank you for defending our country and our freedom.”